By The Numbers: Can Toronto FC punch their ticket vs. LAFC

Toronto FC are headed to Los Angeles to face LAFC at Banc of California Stadium for the first time, and more than just three points are up for grabs.

TFC and Montreal Impact are taking a breather from their half-completed Canadian Championship tie, and have both flown to Los Angeles to perhaps, indirectly, to settle a different score.

If the Reds can get a win against the league-leaders or if Montreal fails to grab all three vs. LA Galaxy, then Toronto will find their way back into the MLS post-season for the fourth time in five years.

SHIELDED FROM THE SHIELD

LAFC are putting the finishing touches on a historic season. Because second-overall-NYCFC doesn’t play until Sunday, the Reds won’t have the indignity of sharing the field with the Supporters Shield winners (an outcome they also avoided last year by beating a visiting Atlanta FC).

LAFC may have lost a bit of their historic stride (winless in their last four matches), but are still on pace to set a new MLS record for points in a season.

It would be the THIRD consecutive season that the mark has been set. Here’s a comparison of LAFC’s season, compared to Altanta, NYRB and TFC’s historic seasons of late.

LOOKING FOR EIGHT

The recent pace has been the opposite for TFC, who are unbeaten in seven matches in league play. It’s just the fifth time in club history that they’ve had such a streak in a season.

As with many positive records for TFC, four of the five streaks have come during Greg Vanney’s tenure with the club.

HE’S ONE OF OUR OWN

Jonathan Osorio has the opportunity to add to his already impressive TFC resume this weekend. If Oso finds the back of the net, it will be the 22nd opponent on which he’s scored, breaking a club deadlock with Jozy Altidore.

Since Altidore scored a brace in the only match between TFC and LAFC, his number will stay at 21 until the end of the regular season.

That potential goal for Oso would have another significance — as it would be his 29th in regular season play — moving him into sole possession of third place on the club’s all-time list.

If he were to go one place above Dwayne De Rosario, he would become the highest scoring Canadian player in TFC regular-season history.

TRIPLE CONVERSION

When Alejandro Pozuelo scored his panenka from the penalty spot vs. Colorado on Sunday, it was the fifth time that TFC have converted a penalty in back-to-back league matches.

If called on to take a dead ball from 12 yards out this weekend, Poz can set a club record achieving the feat for the third match on the bounce.